The Senate approved S 1927
[LOC |
WW], the
"Protect America Act" or "PAA", on August 3, 2007, by a vote of 60-28.
See,
Roll Call No. 309. The House approved the bill on August 4, 2007, by a vote of 227-183.
See, Roll Call No. 836. President
Bush signed the bill on August 5, 2007. It is now Public Law No. 110-55. It contains a six
month sunset provision. See also, story titled "Summary of Protect America Act" in
TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,638, September 11, 2007.

Rep. Conyers' no notice tactic deprives the Bush administration and its supporters in the
House of effectively responding to, and organizing opposition to, the bill before its mark up.
President Bush employed a similar tactic two months ago to win enactment of S 1927.

Rep. Conyers also issued a news
release, and a short
summary of the bill.

Rep. Conyers' release states that this bill is "an
effort to address concerns about civil liberty protections in the
hastily-enacted “Protect America Act” that was signed into law in early August.
The RESTORE ACT restores court oversight of intelligence gathering by requiring
that electronic surveillance programs be approved by the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act (FISA) Court, mandating that FISA warrants be obtained when the
government wants to undertake surveillance of persons in the US, and authorizing
continued oversight of programs by the Court, Congress, and independent auditors."

Rep. Reyes (at
right) stated in this release that this bill "provides the Intelligence Community with
strong tools to track down terrorists, weapons proliferators, and spies ... But it also
protects the civil liberties of Americans and requires stronger oversight by Congress."

Rep. Conyers is Chairman of the HJC. Rep. Reyes is Chairman of the
House
Intelligence Committee (HIC). The HIC has not publicly announced a date for
markup of this or any other FISA reform bill.

The agenda for the HJC includes nine bills. The HJC usually takes up bills in the
order that they appear on the agenda. HR 3773 is the first listed item.